Rain vs. KO2's

[StG58]

The rainy season has set in here in the Pacific NW. I got a chance to play with my new 31x10.50 KO2's on the street and freeway in the rain. No issues to report. The tires remained planted to the pavement under all conditions that I experienced. They even stayed planted to the pavement when the ruts on the freeway filled with water during a hard rain. Puddles on the side streets? No problem. Water running across the road? Again, no problem.

Went out searching for a BIG puddle in a parking lot. Got a chance to run through it at speeds up to about 35 mph (closed course, controlled conditions, don't try this at home etc, etc.) and the TJ remained stable and tracked straight. I'm really liking this new tread design and compound.

Oh, the technical side. 3,300# TJ, 31x10.50R15 KO2's on stock Grizzly rims. Inflated to 28 psi all the way around. 2.5 four banger, 5 speed transmission 4.10/4,11 gears, no lockers.

 

[Chris]

Sounds like my Duratracs. Excellent in the rain!

A must have for the PNW!

 

[StG58]

Pretty much, Chris. Those four small contact patches at each corner of the TJ are a make or break deal around here, aren't they? The SIL has a brand new set of Duratracs on his JKU. 265/75R16's, so they are just a hair bigger than the 31x10.50's on my TJ, but then he has a few hundred pounds on me as well. We were driving the same roads at the same speeds in the same conditions. ...and had the same driving experience. We're heading out together in a couple of weeks for a weekend in the back country in Southwest Washington. It rains A LOT up there about this time of year. The roads are going to be all gravel and dirt because we are going to try to make a transect from Nacelle up to Centralia on the old skid roads and unmaintained mainlines. It should be very instructive. I'm betting that the difference in performance is going to be from driver skill and not tire design.

 

[Chris]

I'm betting that the difference in performance is going to be from driver skill and not tire design.

Yep, I'd bet on that!

Either way, hopefully you get a chance to try them out in some mud!

 

[StG58]

Yep, I'd bet on that!

Either way, hopefully you get a chance to try them out in some mud!

Fall season. SW Washington coastal back country. There's going to be some mud involved. Probably a LOT of mud involved. The biggest two problems are going to be "dry" firewood and place to set up camp where we aren't swimming between the tent and the fire pit. I'll let everyone know what we discover when we get back. I'm betting I'm going to wish I had a winch.

 

[Chris]

Fall season. SW Washington coastal back country. There's going to be some mud involved. Probably a LOT of mud involved. The biggest two problems are going to be "dry" firewood and place to set up camp where we aren't swimming between the tent and the fire pit. I'll let everyone know what we discover when we get back. I'm betting I'm going to wish I had a winch.

You need a winch... and lockers

 

[StG58]

You need a winch... and lockers

They are on the list. Probably a winch first. Used Warns are tough to come by and expensive to buy around here. New Warns aren't much more than what people are asking for the used ones. It's on the list, but 500 bucks is 500 bucks. Maybe next year. The same with lockers. I'll use a winch or lockers less than I use my brakes. One of Blain's brake set ups comes first. Still waffling between a 15" big brake kit and just putting Black Magic pads and a set of his Centric rotors on. I keep eyeing his 15" kit, and my wallet keeps telling me otherwise.

 

[Chris]

They are on the list. Probably a winch first. Used Warns are tough to come by and expensive to buy around here. New Warns aren't much more than what people are asking for the used ones. It's on the list, but 500 bucks is 500 bucks. Maybe next year. The same with lockers. I'll use a winch or lockers less than I use my brakes. One of Blain's brake set ups comes first. Still waffling between a 15" big brake kit and just putting Black Magic pads and a set of his Centric rotors on. I keep eyeing his 15" kit, and my wallet keeps telling me otherwise.

I have his 16" kit and it's amazing.